April 7, 2010
Yesterday, ten hours were spent in a windowless room with a curtain that could be pulled across the end of it. I sat in a purple tweed reclining chair placed next to the stand with four bags of fluids hanging on it. Two tubes came together about two feet away from my port; the red blood continued on and into the port, while the clear fluid waited “just in case” there was a need to rinse away the blood cells due to an unforeseen reaction. I did not have any, and nearly a liter of packed red cells were dripped into the port, up the tube into the jugular vein and hence into my system. Another small miracle taking place as a life is reawakened though the auspices of “the kindness of strangers”. I had a headache when I got home, and my stomach was not pleased for some reason, but today, I feel a beginning return to the person I used to be. It is such a happy thing to be able to start over yet once again.
Alphie has decided to be my very near companion today, so right beneath my chair is a dog dreaming about something that requires some chuffing, a few growls, and muted barking. It is a bit unnerving, but I do not disturb him since he has yet to become reacquainted with my different scent. Three bags of B negative blood from three different sources likely sends a whole new set of messages to his olfactory system. I have not had any clear visions of “otherness” but I do feel unsettled in a way that is new to me. A part of me wants of wring my hands and wail while another part sends soothing thoughts encouraging calmness.
Rains are falling and now the view out over Sanctuary is filled with green leaves on the willows and green grasses aggressively pushing through the winter bronze covering of the pasture. The little wood violets have begun to bloom and the jonquils and daffodils are also out; even so, just a few moments ago, a short spate of snowflakes filled the air. Spring will win, however, and the season of new life will once again lift everyone’s spirits. May your days have sunlight, birdsong and flowers in them, too.